Sharks players emotional after Ryan Reaves suffers finger injury in fight

Reaves stayed on the bench for most of the game despite the gruesome injury

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:23am

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San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves appeared to suffer a gruesome finger injury in a fight with the Philadelphia Flyers' Garrett Wilson during a game on Saturday. Despite the injury, Reaves stayed on the bench for the remainder of the game, drawing emotional reactions from his teammates who praised his leadership and dedication to the team.

Why it matters

Reaves is a veteran player known for his physical style of play and willingness to fight. His injury and decision to remain on the bench despite it highlights the team-first mentality he brings to the Sharks, who are fighting to maintain their playoff position in a tight Pacific Division race.

The details

After the fight with Wilson, Reaves skated directly to the Sharks bench where the team trainer attended to his injured finger. Reaves took one more shift in the first period but did not return to the ice after that, yet he stayed on the bench for the rest of the game. Sharks players Barclay Goodrow and Mario Ferraro became emotional when discussing Reaves' impact on the team and his decision to remain on the bench despite his injury.

  • The incident occurred in the first period of the Sharks' 4-1 loss to the Flyers on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Ryan Reaves

A 39-year-old forward for the San Jose Sharks who was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in July. He is known for his physical style of play and willingness to fight.

Garrett Wilson

A forward for the Philadelphia Flyers who fought with Reaves, leading to Reaves' finger injury.

Barclay Goodrow

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who became emotional when discussing Reaves' impact on the team.

Mario Ferraro

A defenseman for the San Jose Sharks who also became emotional when discussing Reaves' leadership and dedication to the team.

Will Leonard

The trainer for the San Jose Sharks who attended to Reaves' injured finger on the bench.

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What they’re saying

“He's an unbelievable teammate. He's a guy that brings it all, every night. Great friend.”

— Barclay Goodrow, Sharks forward

“He's one of those guys, he leads on the ice, he leads off the ice, he leads on the bench. I'm kind of getting emotional about it, to be honest. He's one of those guys that is willing to do whatever for the team, even if that means staying on the bench and he's not going out there. He's pumping us up, leading all time.”

— Mario Ferraro, Sharks defenseman

What’s next

The Sharks will provide an update on the severity of Reaves' finger injury in the coming days.

The takeaway

Reaves' decision to remain on the bench despite his gruesome finger injury demonstrates his team-first mentality and leadership, which has made him a valuable veteran presence for the Sharks as they fight to maintain their playoff position.